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At the age of 10, I came across a article in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had helped out at the very first contest starting from 1996 – mom handed out flyers, dad organized the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been held globally, with the winners converging in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I inquired with my family if I could enter. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They felt it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, acting out to the biggest rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My parents were music fans – dad loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the first band I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the guitar hero, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I did my routine to the band's the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started chanting “Angus”, reminiscent of the concert version, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a adjudicator one year, and started the show on another occasion, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and choose “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve made it to the final every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was determined to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a family. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The event is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to put their all – dynamic presence, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an nonexistent axe. Judges score you on a grading system from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the remaining participants: a song plays and you freestyle.

Getting ready is key. I chose an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body loose enough to jump, my hands fast enough to copy riffs and my spine set for those gestures and hops. By the time competition day dawned, I could sense the music in my being.

When the show concluded, the results were tallied, and I had drawn with the Japanese champion, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was time for an air-off. We went head-to-head to Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. As the music started, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and primarily I was so thrilled to play again. When they announced I’d triumphed, the square erupted.

My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from surprise. Then everyone started chanting the classic tune the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and lifted me on to their backs. A former champion – AKA his stage name – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was embracing me. I shed tears. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The earlier winner from Finland, the former champion, was there, too. He offered me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “about damn time”.

This worldwide group is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a true way of life. People come from all over the world, and all involved is positive and uplifting. Before you go on stage, each contestant offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re free to be uninhibited, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and musician in a musical act with my brother called the group title, referencing the sports figure, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I produce mini movies and song visuals. The title hasn’t altered my routine significantly but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I hope it leads to more creative work. The city will be a cultural hub soon, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just thankful: for the group, for the ability to compete, and for that young child who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”